However, goals from Jamie Hanson and Andy Kanga saw a switch in the leaders, before Callum Stewart converted a penalty late in the match to ensure the points were shared.

Brad Munn opted to make three changes to the side that drew with Coalville Town at the weekend – Jamie Hanson came into the centre of defence as Ryan Campbell-Gordon dropped out, whilst Liam Loughlan was handed his debut in midfield in place of Casey Johnson and Nathan Tyson began as the Number 9 ahead of Andy Kanga.

It was a quiet opening 30 minutes at Grange Park, with neither side causing any real danger, however, the first chance came through Jack Rogers a third of the way through proceedings.

Riece Bertram recovered a failed clearance from a corner and found Rogers with a weaving run into the box and an eventual shot, although Joshua Quaynor did well with a superb sliding tackle to block the shot and deny the winger a goal.

Stewart then had only the second real opportunity of the first half minutes before the half-time whistle, as his close-range effort was saved by the diving Ross Durrant on a tight angle.

A somewhat forgettable first half came to an end, and there was hopefulness around the ground that the second half would be more action-packed than the first.

That came to fruition, as the Brakes opened the scoring in the 49th minute through a close-range strike courtesy of former Peterborough United and Crawley Town forward Barnett.

However, United levelled the scoreline just five minutes later, after a failed clearance looped in the air, inside the Leamington box, and was ultimately won and directed into the bottom right by the towering head of Hanson.

Blues’ substitute Kanga was gifted an opportunity moments later as he drove towards goal, one-on-one with Callum Hawkins, however, the Leamington shot-stopper came out on top with a big stop down to his left.

Nonetheless, Kanga did eventually net Long Eaton’s second in the 65th minute, after Jack Rogers’ initial shot could only be parried onto the post by Hawkins and the substitute was on hand to fire home the rebound.

With 20 minutes left to play, Henry Landers’ deft header had to be stopped by the diving hands of Durrant to ensure the Blues’ lead remained.

Heartbreakingly, Leamington left it late, but in the 88th minute, they were awarded a penalty and a chance to take something from the game. Stewart stepped up and slotted the penalty in the bottom left, sending Durrant the wrong way and securing a point for the visitors from Warwickshire.